Siphon paint spray cup assembly

ABSTRACT

The following specification describes a spray gun paint cup assembly having an angularly disposed elongate vent passageway and reservoir in the cup cover to limit paint drip and a threespoked screw sleeve on the cup conduit to enable the application of large torque for fastening the cover to the cup.

United States Patent Zupan et al. 1 5] Feb. 6, 1973 15 1 SIPHON PAINTSPRAY CUP 1,885,218 11/1932 Berman ..137/588 ASSEMBLY 2,178,964 11/1939Hulse 2,508,597 5/l950 Dalrymple.... [75] Inventors: Frank M. Zupan,Arlington Heights; 2,670,882 3/1954 Best Jerome N. Zurek, Chicago, bothof 3,401,842 9/1968 Morrison .222/464 X Ill.

[73] Assignee: Stewart-Warner Corporation, Chim E wi11i R Cline Cago,AtlarneyAugustus G. Douvas, William J. Newman 1221 Filed: May 14, 1971am Norm" Less" [21] Appl. No.: 143,313

1521 us. c1. ..l37/588, 239/318, 222/464, [57] ABSTRACT 220/57 Thefollowing specification describes a spray gun paint [51] Int. Cl ..F16k45/04 cup assembly having an angularly disposed elongate [58] Field ofSearch ..137/587, 588, 590; 239/318; vent p g y and reservoir in the p cver o 222/4 4 1933; 220/57 limit paint drip and a three-spoked screwsleeve on the cup conduit to enable the application of large torque [56}References Cited for fastening the cover to the cup.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 6 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures 3,240,398 3/1966Dalton, Jr Q. ..222/464 X 1,843,269 2/1932 Capser ..220/57 PATENTEU B 5I975 3.714.967

INVENTORS Frank M. Zupu n Jerome N. Zurek y AH rney SIPI'ION PAINT SPRAYCUP ASSEMBLY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention Thisinvention relates in general to spray gun paint cups and moreparticularly to a spray gun paint cup cover having improved fasteningand venting means.

2. Description of the Prior Art Siphon paint cups for spray guns areusually attached directly to the gun by means of a coupling on one endof a conduit extending through the cup cover into the cup or can. An airhose also attached to the spray gun creates a pressure drop in theconduit for enabling delivery of the paint through the conduit to thegun nozzle. A hole located in a concave wall portion of the cup coverintermediate the rim and cover axis provides atmospheric air formaintaining the pressure drop. In the course of using the gun andattached cup, the cup is shaken or momentarily held upside down todistribute the paint particles in the solvent and is held at variousangles or attitudes for better spray application, resulting in paintdrip through the cover hole. Paint drip in turn may either contact thesurface being painted and mar the same or form an undesirable andinconvenient deposit on the operators hands and adjacent surfaces.

In addition, the cup or can cover is usually secured to the can by meansof a threaded sleeve on the conduit which engages a U-shaped bracket tosnug the cover against the cup rim. In order to facilitate manualmanipulation of the sleeve, a disc or flange extends therefrom; however,the torque exerted on the sleeve is limited by the tendency of theoperators hand or fingers to slip along the disc surface or rim.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION To avoid the foregoing problems, the presentinvention provides a can cover having a pair of partially overlappingradial bosses on opposite sides of the cover with the boss located onthe lower cover side terminating adjacent but spaced from the centralaxis and conduit while the boss on the upper cover side terminatesadjacent the rim. A relatively large diameter longitudinal passageway isprovided in the upper side boss from adjacent the rim through the coverfor axial communication with a longitudinal small diameter passagewayextending radially inwardly and downwardly through the lower side bossfor communicating with the can interior adjacent the central conduit.Thus, air may readily enter the can, while the central conduit serves asa baffle to limit the direct access of paint into the passageway whenthe can is shaken. Further, the elongate upwardly directed passagewayslimit the direct escape of paint while serving as a reservoir to holdpaint for permitting the held paint to thereafter drip back into thereservoir. The end of the large diameter opening adjacent and above thecan rim also permits one of the operators fingers or digits to befacilely held over the opening when the can is shaken or held upsidedown to prevent paint from escaping therethrough.

Additionally, the sleeve on the central conduit is provided with aplurality of radially extending spokes which may be engaged by theoperators fingers to exert a torque on the sleeve independent offrictional engagement for tightening the cover on the can.

The foregoing and other objects of the invention will become apparent onexamination of the following specification and claims together with thedrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top elevational view ofthe spray gun cup and cover assembly incorporating the principles of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 2-2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view illustrating the ventconstruction; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view illustrating the apparatus forsecuring the cover and cup.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In FIG. 1 a siphon spraygun cup assembly is indicated by the reference character 10. Theassembly 10 includes a cup-shaped housing or can 12 whose open endreceives a cover 14.

The cover 14 is a die cast material having thickness of approximately0.175 inch and a peripheral edge 16 in overlapping engagement with thecup rim. A recess is formed in the cover adjacent the edge and a gasket18 therein bears against the cup rim to seal the edge.

Extending through the cover along the central axis of the cover is aconduit 20. Conduit 20 is secured to the cover by means of a ring 22 anda threaded nipple 24 engaging the threaded lower end of the conduit 20.An extension conduit 26 having a coupling 28 is threaded on the nipple24 and extends to a position adjacent the bottom wall 30 of the can. Theupper end of the conduit 20 carries a coupling 32 for sealinglyfastening the conduit 20 and can 12 to a spray gun in a conventionalmanner.

An axially movable sleeve 34 encircles the conduit 20 intermediate thering 22 and the coupling 32 and the lower end of the sleeve 34 adjacentring 22 is threaded for engagement with a threaded opening in the backwall 36 of a U-shaped locking bracket 38. integrally formed on thesleeve 34 between the upper surface of wall 36 and coupling 32 are threeequi-angularly spaced radial spokes 40 to enable a turning torque to beapplied to the sleeve directly transverse to a radial line from thesleeve axis. The end legs 52 of the locking bracket 38 are each providedwith a recess 54 for engagement with a respective locking lug 56 fixedto and projecting in opposite directions from the side of the can 12.

Aradially extending boss 58 tapering outwardly of the cover towards thecover rim or periphery to a height of substantially 0.31 inch with theend face 60 at an angle of 45 overlaps at its inward end a second radialboss 62 tapering in a radial inward direction from the cover 14 towardthe can interior and terminating substantially 1% inch from the centralcover axis with the end face at an angle of substantially 22 to theaxis. A

passageway 64 of substantially 0.18 inch diameter extends from face 60longitudinally for 1 inch through boss 58, the cover 16 and into boss 62for communication with a second passageway 66. Passageway 66 has adiameter of 0.08 inch axially aligned with passageway 64 along an axisat 68 to the vertical axis of cover 14 and extends for a distance ofless than 1% inch and communicates with the interior of cup 12 at aposition spaced substantially less than V4 inch from the periphery ofnut 24 or approximately 0.5 inch from the cover axis.

In use the can 12 is filled with liquid paint to a desired level and thecover 14 then placed over the open end with the recesses 54 in bracket38 engaging the locking lugs 56. The radial spokes 40 are then rotatedto thread the sleeve 34 through the bracket wall 36 and against the ring22 to thereby tighten the cover 14 against the can rim. Since thepressure applied against the spokes is transverse to the axis of thespokes, frictional slippage is avoided and maximum force is applied fortightening the cover. The coupling 32 is engaged with an appropriatefitting on the spray gun and tightened to connect the conduits 20 and 26with the spray gun to communicate paint to the gun.

On the application of air under pressure to the gun, pressure is reducedin the conduit 20 causing paint to flow from the cup through the conduit20 to the gun under atmospheric pressure supplied through thepassageways 64 and 66. When the cup 12 is shaken to aid in dispersion ofthe paint or held at various attitudes, the paint sloshing in the cupwill primarily strike the nut 24 which acts as a baffle to prevent paintentering the passageway 66, while the angular position and length of thepassageways will limit entrance and exit of the paint to and from thecan. If some paint does enter and pass through passageway 66, the totallength of passageways 64 and 66 will prevent direct paint escape andinstead the paint may collect in the lower portion of passageway 64during any particular shaking or tilting movement of the can and thendrip back into the cup through passageway 66, while air continues toenter in the portion of the passageways above the liquid level. Holdinga finger over the easily accessible face 60, when vigorously shaking orholding the can upside down, of course, prevents paint from leaking out.

The above is a description of an improved spray gun paint siphon cupassembly whose inventive concepts are believed disclosed by theforegoing description and accompanying claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A paint cup assembly for use with a spray gun comprising a cup-shapedcan having an open end for receiving paint, a cover for said open endhaving a central axis coincident with the longitudinal axis of said can,a conduit having one end extending through said cover for communicatingpaint in said can to said gun, and a pair of axially aligned tandemcommunicating longitudinally extending passageways with one of said pairof passageways extending radially inwardly toward said cover axis from aposition adjacent said cover periphery exterior of said can and having alarger diameter than the other passageway, said other passagewayextending radially toward said 'cover axis and communicating with theinterior of said can at a position spaced adjacent said'conduit.

2. The cup assembly claimed in claim 1 in which said larger diameterpassageway has a diameter of substantially 0.18 inch and issubstantially 1 inch long, and the smaller diameter passageway has adiameter of substantially 0.08 inch diameter and is less than 0.5 inchlong and terminates substantiallly 0.5 inch from said axis.

3. A paint cup assemb y for use with a spray gun comprising a cup-shapedcan having an open end for receiving paint, a cover for said open endhaving a central axis coincident with the longitudinal axis of said can,a conduit having one end extending through said cover for communicatingpaint in said can to said gun, a boss integrally formed on said cover, alongitudinal passageway extending through said boss and cover from aposition exterior to said can and adjacent the periphery of said coverradially inwardly toward said cover axis and terminating on the side ofsaid cover inside said can at a position spaced adjacent said conduit,said passageway formed at an angle of substantially 68 to said coveraxis, said boss extending to a position adjacent said rim for facileengagement by an operators finger to close said passageway.

4. The cup assembly claimed in claim 3 in which said boss terminates ina face projecting axially of said cover at an angle of substantially 45.

5. A paint cup assembly for use with a spray gun comprising a cup-shapedcan having an open end for receiving paint, a pair of radially extendinglugs at diametrically opposite positions on said can adjacent the openend of said can, a cover for said open end, a conduit having one endextending through said cover along'the axis of said cover for receipt insaid can, a sleeve encircling a portion of said conduit exterior to saidcan and having a threaded end adjacent said cover, a plurality ofradially extending spokes formed on said sleeve, a U-shaped brackethaving a threaded back wall opening for receiving said sleeve threadedend and a respective passageway in each bracket side leg for engaging arespective side lug whereby said spokes enable said sleeve to bethreaded against said cover to lift said bracket against said lugs forsealingly engaging said cover with said can open end, a radiallyextending boss located on each side of said cover with one boss exteriorto said can extending from adjacent the periphery of said cover'axiallytoward said can and the boss on the side of said cover facing said canextending radially inwardly toward said cover axis and axially towardsaid can from a position radially overlapping said one boss andterminating at a position adjacent said conduit, and a pair of axiallyaligned passageways extending longitudinally of each said boss forcommunicating air to said can with one of said passageways having asmaller

1. A paint cup assembly for use with a spray gun comprising a cup-shapedcan having an open end for receiving paint, a cover for said open endhaving a central axis coincident with the longitudinal axis of said can,a conduit having one end extending through said cover for communicatingpaint in said can to said gun, and a pair of axially aligned tandemcommunicating longitudinally extending passageways with one of said pairof passageways extending radially inwardly toward said cover axis from aposition adjacent said cover periphery exterior of said can and having alarger diameter than the other passageway, said other passagewayextending radially toward said cover axis and communicating with theinterior of said can at a position spaced adjacent said conduit.
 1. Apaint cup assembly for use with a spray gun comprising a cup-shaped canhaving an open end for receiving paint, a cover for said open end havinga central axis coincident with the longitudinal axis of said can, aconduit having one end extending through said cover for communicatingpaint in said can to said gun, and a pair of axially aligned tandemcommunicating longitudinally extending passageways with one of said pairof passageways extending radially inwardly toward said cover axis from aposition adjacent said cover periphery exterior of said can and having alarger diameter than the other passageway, said other passagewayextending radially toward said cover axis and communicating with theinterior of said can at a position spaced adjacent said conduit.
 2. Thecup assembly claimed in claim 1 in which said larger diameter passagewayhas a diameter of substantially 0.18 inch and is substantially 1 inchlong, and the smaller diameter passageway has a diameter ofsubstantially 0.08 inch diameter and is less than 0.5 inch long andterminates substantially 0.5 inch from said axis.
 3. A paint cupassembly for use with a spray gun comprising a cup-shaped can having anopen end for receiving paint, a cover for said open end having a centralaxis coincident with the longitudinal axis of said can, a conduit havingone end extending through said cover for communicating paint in said canto said gun, a boss integrally formed on said cover, a longitudinalpassageway extending through said boss and cover from a positionexterior to said can and adjacent the periphery of said cover radiallyinwardly toward said cover axis and terminating on the side of saidcover inside said can at a position spaced adjacent said conduit, saidpassageway formed at an angle of substantially 68* to said cover axis,said boss extending to a position adjacent said rim for facileengagement by an operator''s finger to close said passageway.
 4. The cupassembly claimed in claim 3 in which said boss terminates in a faceprojecting axially of said cover at an angle of substantially 45*.
 5. Apaint cup assembly for use with a spray gun comprising a cup-shaped canhaving an open end for receiving paint, a pair of radially extendinglugs at diametrically opposite positions on said can adjacent the openend of said can, a cover for said open end, a conduit having one endextending through said cover along the axis of said cover for receipt insaid can, a sleeve encircling a portion of said conduit exterior to saidcan and having a threaded end adjacent said cover, a plurality ofradially extending spokes formed on said sleeve, a U-shaped brackethaving a threaded back wall opening for receiving said sleeve threadedend and a respective passageway in each bracket side leg for engaging arespective side lug whereby said spokes enable said sleeve to bethreaded against said cover to lift said bracket against said lugs forsealingly engaging said cover with said can open end, a radiallyextending boss located on each side of said cover with one boss exteriorto said can extending from adjacent the periphery of said cover axiallytoward said can and the boss on the side of said cover facing said canextending radially inwardly toward said cover axis and axially towardsaid can from a position radially overlapping said one boss andterminating at a position adjacent said conduit, and a pair of axiallyaligned passageways extending longitudinally of each said boss forcommunicating air to said can with one of said passageways having asmaller diameter than the other extending from said position adjacentsaid conduit.